Five Elements of Composition



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Patterns

Patterns are all around us, we just need to learn to see them. Emphasizing and highlighting patterns can give you striking shots - as can high lighting when patterns are broken.

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Photograph by farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/2368880206_8821e


Symmetry

Depending upon the scene, symmetry can be something to go for or something to avoid.
A symmetrical shot with strong composition and a good point of interest can give you a great image - but without the strong point of interest it can be a little predictable.

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Photograph by farm1.static.flickr.com/182/474310879_8fcde65



Texture
Images are a two dimensional thing yet with the use of ‘texture’ they can become almost three dimensional.
Texture particularly comes into play when light hits objects at interesting angles.

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Photograph by macro.art-scene.org/



Depth of Field

The depth of field selected when taking an image will drastically impact the composition of an image.
It can isolate a subject from its background and foreground (when using a shallow depth of field) or it can put the same subject in context by revealing it’s surrounds with a larger depth of field.

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Photograhper- PeytonG2013 "School Shoes"

Lines

Lines have the power to draw the eye to key focal points in a shot and to impact the ‘feel’ of an image greatly.
Diagonal, horizontal, vertical and converging lines all impact images differently and should be spotted while framing a shot and then utilized to strengthen it.

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Photographer- PeytonG2013 "Lines"



for more information visit http://photoinf.com/General/Robert_Berdan/Composition_and_the_Elements_of_Visual_Design.htm